JSX to establish information centers

JSX to establish information centers

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) will establish
information centers in the country's major cities as part of its
campaign to promote capital market activities.

Hasan Zein Mahmud, the JSX president, said yesterday that the
campaign is a crucial step in improving the knowledge of the
public about the capital market.

"The long-term goal of the campaign is to make local investors
dominant here," Hasan said, adding that local investors should be
able to gradually beat the dominance of foreign investors, who at
present carry out over 70 percent of total transactions on the
market.

Felia Salim, the bourse's director for development, said that
the planned information centers will be opened in several cities
this year.

"In what cities, well we don't know yet but a number of cities
will definitely get capital market information centers this
year," she said.

She said that cities such as Manado, Ujungpandang, Medan,
Batam, Pontianak, Balikpapan and Denpasar will be soon be
surveyed.

Felia said that the opening of information centers is aimed at
optimizing the bourse's domestic campaign, which is now carried
out by holding the "clinic for going public," a free capital
market consultation service.

Besides providing information on capital market activities,
the planned information centers will also hold routine
consultation forums, she said, adding that local businessmen and
intellectuals will be also involved in the establishment and
operation of such centers. (hen)